Analysis of hospital rapid response protocols using simulation

Many hospitals in the United States are implementing a rapid response system (RRS) within their inpatient units to provide prompt assessment and intervention to the patient´s bedside in an attempt to avoid further clinical deterioration in the non-intensive care unit. In this paper, based on analyzing the rapid response system in the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, we present a simulation model with some assumptions to model the patient flow and the clinician´s diagnosis process. Using such a model, we analyze the influences of clinicians´ competence level and the average length of patients´ waiting time on the patient average length of stay and the distributions of the care levels received by patients in the system. Specific recommendations are made based on this study.